The Southern IPM Center is about to undertake a regional survey to define priorities for extension IPM projects in the region. The Center can support relatively few projects each year, so for the first time we are trying this approach to help ensure that our limited resources are applied to the most important projects.
Our plans are:
- To undertake this survey as soon as we attain required approval from the NCSU IRB process. The current target date is November 1.
- To present the survey online, accepting responses for approximately two weeks.
- To accept survey responses from any Southern region stakeholder, but to specifically target Extension specialists, Extension agents, IPM consultants, and other professionals working in and knowledgeable about IPM. Researchers are encouraged to participate, but responses are limited to extension needs.
- To limit survey responses to extension issues as opposed to research or academic issues. For this purpose, “extension” issues as those with important and useful knowledge exists but potential users are insufficiently award of, motivated by, or skillful with its use to manage IPM-related risk. This survey is NOT to set priorities for research (i.e., development or discovery of new knowledge.)
- To use survey results in setting criteria to be written into the RFA for as much as half of our IPM Enhancement Grants funds competition.
Results of the survey may be used in several ways to inform SIPMC program choices. One of them will certainly be to inform development of the next IPM Enhancement Grants Request for Applications, which will reserve up to 50% of funds to address extension priorities identified by survey results.
The survey is very short. It will ask a few questions about the (anonymous) respondent’s professional responsibilities. Each respondent will be allowed to submit two priorities, each with a short set of supporting facts such as importance of the crop/setting and pest(s).
Validity and utility of survey results should increase with increased participation across the region, so we hope you will participate and share the opportunity with other stakeholders you know.
Please direct questions to Jim at jim@sripmc.org or Rosemary at rhallberg@sripmc.org.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Extension survey, IPM Enhancement grants, priorities
